Bora Bora, French Polynesia – Reef-diving in a turquoise lagoon is among the top draws on Bora Bora, no. 3 among the world's top 10 islands.

Hide Caption

3 of 10

10 photos

Lewis and Harris, Scotland – A little removed from the other, balmy inclusions in the island top 10 is this Scottish entrant at no. 5. A resident says its white sand and turquoise water "make it look Caribbean."

Hide Caption

4 of 10

10 photos

Naxos, Greece – Sixth best island in the world, according to TripAdvisor, is Naxos, legendary home of Zeus.

Chincoteague, Virginia – Horses run wild on Chincoteague, second among best U.S. islands.

Hide Caption

7 of 10

10 photos

Maui, Hawaii – A renowned island beauty, Maui isn't too surprising an inclusion among best U.S. islands, at no. 5.

Hide Caption

8 of 10

10 photos

Milos, Greece – This Cycladic island, sixth among the European top 10, is where the Venus de Milo statue was discovered.

Hide Caption

9 of 10

10 photos

Capri, Italy – Poets and painters have been extolling the beauty of Capri, eighth top European island, for centuries -- the TripAdvisor ranking is only the last in a long list of compliments.

Hide Caption

10 of 10

Story highlights

Ambergris Caye wins TripAdvisor best island award for second year running

Scotland's Harris and Lewis is new entrant at no. 5

Chincoteague, with its wild ponies, and San Juan island among U.S. top 10

Ambergris Caye, in Belize, has held on to the title of world's No. 1 island for the second year running in awards by the travel review site TripAdvisor.

The island is acclaimed not only for its beaches but for its coral reef -- the second largest in the world -- limestone caves, and tracts of tropical rainforest dotted with waterfalls.

Islands in Polynesia (Bora Bora), Greece (Naxos) and Thailand (Ko Tao), as well as Marco Island, off Florida, were other winners in the top 10 global list.

Perhaps less obvious postcard-rack material, the Scottish island of Harris and Lewis ranked no. 5 worldwide and top among European islands.

Alastair Lockett, from the Hebridean island's tourist board, was not at all surprised by the accolade.

With its "pure white sand" and "turquoise water," Harris and Lewis -- which ranked nowhere in last year's top 10 -- actually "looks Caribbean," he told CNN.

Its "accessible remoteness" and "sense of space" were what drew people to the island, he said.

Best U.S. islands

Chincoteague: wild horses could drag you there.

Among the 10 best islands in the United States -- aside from Marco Island, at No. 1 -- were Chincoteague, in Virginia, known for its wild ponies, and San Juan island, in Washington, acclaimed for its orca-sighting.

Mauii, a beautiful possible shoe-in from Hawaii, was another U.S. winner, as was the "golfer's paradise" of Hilton Head, South Carolina.

Trailing in the wake of Lewis and Harris among 10 best European islands was Gozo, Malta; Santorini and Cephalonia, among a clutch of Greek islands; and Mull and Mainland, the largest of the Orkney Islands -- making up a Scottish trio.

TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice Island awards are based on the most highly rated hotels, restaurants and attractions listed for each island on the website during a 12-month period.